Central Park

Mayor Bloomberg, Major League Baseball And Bank Of America Announce Free Bon Jovi Concert In Central Park During Mlb All-star Summer

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Jon Bon Jovi, Major League Baseball Executive Vice President Tim Brosnan and President of Bank of America Global Corporate & Investment Banking Brian Moynihan announced today that Bon Jovi will play a free ticketed concert on the Great Lawn in Central Park on Saturday, July 12th at 8 p.m. The concert, sponsored by Bank of America, will take place three days before Major League Baseball’s Midsummer Classic during the last year of Yankee Stadium. It joins a series of public events leading up to the game that includes DHL All-Star FanFest and the All-Star Game Red Carpet Parade. NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta, Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe and Sports Commissioner Kenneth J. Podziba joined the announcement, held in the Blue Room at City Hall.

“All-Star Summer is set to hit New York City in a few weeks, and the lineup of festivities just added another future hall-of-famer in Bon Jovi,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “The free concert in Central Park is going to help make this year’s All-Star Summer a celebration to remember. The 2008 All-Star Game will pay tribute to the storied history of Yankee Stadium, and Bon Jovi will help us ensure it goes out in a blaze of glory, hopefully a blaze in late October.”

“Major League Baseball wants All-Star Summer to be the ultimate celebration for baseball fans in New York City,” said Tim Brosnan of Major League Baseball. “A free concert in Central Park featuring one of the biggest rock bands in the world will reach tens of thousands of fans and put an exclamation point on the week’s many fan festivities.”

Beginning Wednesday, July 2nd, tickets will be distributed at baseball parks and events throughout New York City. The bulk of tickets distributed at the ballparks will be found at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, with others made available in Queens at Shea Stadium, in Brooklyn at the home of the Cyclones and in Staten Island at the home of the Staten Island Yankees. Tickets will also be available at MLB.com. For more information about the concert, fans can go to MLB.com.

“This concert is the perfect cap to all the festivities and events that we have planned around Yankee Stadium’s final All-Star farewell,” said NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta. “MLB All-Star Summer and Bon Jovi playing Central Park are just a few examples of all the things there are to see and do around the City – not only this summer, but year long – and proves once again that New York City is the best destination to host world-class, high-profile events.”

“This concert is the perfect exclamation to all the festivities and events that we have planned around Yankee Stadium’s final All-Star farewell,” said NYC & Company CEO Fertitta. “MLB All-Star Summer and Bon Jovi playing Central Park are just a few examples of all the things there are to see and do around the City—not only this summer, but year long—and proves once again that New York City is the best destination to host world-class, high-profile events.”

“Live music and Central Park go together like baseball and hot dogs,” said Parks Commissioner Benepe. “This concert helps celebrate the past, present and future of Major League Baseball in New York City. Bon Jovi’s music, delivered free to the fans in an historic park setting, is an appropriate tribute to Yankee Stadium and the MLB All-Star Summer.”

Bank of America will promote the concert and offer ticket giveaways through radio promotions in the tri-state area. Additional concert supporting partners including MLB sponsors Aquafina, Sharp and Taco Bell will be distributing tickets through radio sweepstakes, promotional giveaways and in-store programs.

In the event of inclement weather as deemed by the Parks Department, the concert will be cancelled. If it is raining and fans are unsure about the status of the concert, they can call 311 for information or visit MLB.com.

In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be cancelled. If it is raining and fans are unsure about the status of the concert, they can call 311 or visit MLB.com for information.

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